Politics1 min read

‘The more you earn, the less you keep’: readers react to the budget

By · Via The Guardian Business · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Public response to the latest government fiscal plan highlights widespread frustration over rising costs and fiscal drag. Business owners report that the static £10,500 employment allowance and higher minimum wages compound personal tax burdens, leaving little spare income despite six-figure salaries. At the same time, younger workers face steep rents that delay homeownership, and existing homeowners question why energy support is linked to council tax bands instead of actual need.

Key points

  • High marginal taxes, including an effective 60% rate over £100,000, severely diminish tak…: High marginal taxes, including an effective 60% rate over £100,000, severely diminish take-home pay for higher-earning business operators.
  • Escalating rental and living expenses are forcing young professionals to delay property p…: Escalating rental and living expenses are forcing young professionals to delay property purchases and consider changing career paths.
  • Government relief measures face criticism for being tied to property tax bands rather tha…: Government relief measures face criticism for being tied to property tax bands rather than directly assessing individual household need.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

‘Most people my age have written off buying a home’

Louie, 24, a chef living in London, says a lot of people have “written off the idea of even considering getting a property” in their 20s.

He is optimistic about the government’s new Your First Home scheme, which will enable people to buy a new-build property with a deposit of just 2.5%, supported by an interest-free equity loan.

But he says a smaller deposit alone will not be enough for him. “I’ve found hospitality wages to be far too volatile to even consider saving for a property,” he says.

As a result, he is studying an access course with plans to start a physiotherapy degree next year. He hopes that by the time he graduates and gains some experience, he will have a stable enough income and sufficient savings to put down a deposit.

He says the new scheme “should encourage a lot of young people to buy earlier” and adds: “We are moving in a good direction, but I’ll still save and wait until around late 20s to early…

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